Concentrator.



PATENTED JUNE 12, 1906.

M. P. BOSS. GONUENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- ANDREW. B. GRAHAM ca. F mc-umuummsns. wAsmNGmN. n. c

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GDNGENTRATOR.

No. seas-212.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1906-.

Application iiled January 1 2, 1905- Serial No. 240.713.

To all whom it mayc'oncer'n:

Be it known that I, MARTIN 1. Boss, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of Californ'ia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concentrators; andI do hereby declare the foliowi'ng to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same.

My invention relates to concentrators of the 'endlesstravelingbelt type.

It consists in means for automatically counteracting the lateral crawlof the belt, as I shall hereinafter describe.

The objector my invention is to provide a simple and eflicientconcentrator of great capacit'y, capable of accurate adjustment andrequiring less constant attention than is usual with this class ofmachines.

Referring to the accompanyin drawings, Figure 1. is a plan of myconcentrator. Fig. 2 is a side elevation taken from thatsideopposite.the driving mechanism. Fig. 3 is a side elevation takenfrom the op osite side to that of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detai of therocking or shaking mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail of part of theadjusting connections of the controlling-rollers. u

A is a suitable bed, from which the main or belt-carrying frame B of theconcentrator is su ported by means of standards, which in their bestarrangement consist of one standard C on one side and located aboutmidway of the length of the frame, as is shown in Fig. 2, and twostandards 0 onthe other side, located nearer the ends of the frame, asshown in Fig. 3 These standards are of any character which will enablethe frame B to be shaken, vibrated, or oscillated about their feet as acenter, and for this purpose I have here shown them as having their feetstepped in suitable adjustable bearings c, secured to the bed A, saidfeet being of a nature adapting them to rock in the bearings. The singlestandard O, as shown in Fig. 2, is secured to the main frame B throughthe intervention of an intermediate frame (3, which supports the mainframe at the two points 0 one near each end, while the standards 0, asshown in Fig. 3, rise directly to and are secured in proper manner tothe main frame B. By this construction while the frame B is supported atfour points it rests upon three base-points arranged in a triangle,which en-' able said frame to rock with greater ease and to be adjustedwith greater accuracy. Mounted in suitable bearings at the head end ofthe frame B is the head-drum D, and mounted in the frame at the foot endis the foot-drum E. The last named drum is adjustably' mounted by thescrews 6, (shown in Figs. 1 and 3,) the object of the adjustment beingto regulate the distance between the drums to suit the length of thebelt and to properly ad= just said length. Mounted upon and travel= ingover and between these terminal drums D and E is the endless belt F,made of suit= able material and having suitable side flanges f, as isusualwith the belts of this class of concentrators. The upper course ofthe belt is supported upon carrying-rolls G, while the lower course ofthe belt is deflected, tightened, and its true course controlled by therollers H. There are two of these controlling-rollers, one near eachend, and theyeXtend across the en tire width of the belt. Each iscarried at one end, as shown in Fig. 3, b means of a hanger I, which isrigidly secure to the main frame B, as is indicated by the two screwsconnect ing it to said frame. The connection of the roller-axiswith thehangers I is a swiveling one to avoid cramping, as is indicated by thescrew 'i. The other end of each roller, as is shown in Fig.2, issupported by a hanger I, which, as indicated by the single screw, ispivotally connected with the frame B, so that it can swing. Theconnection of the axis of the roller with said pivoted hanger is aswiveling one to avoid cramping, as is indicated by the screw i.

The object of pivotally supporting one end of the controlling-rollers His to enable said rollers to be moved to an angle on either side of thetransverse line of the belt in order by reason of said angularadjustment to true the belt in its travel by counteracting its lateralcrawl. By this is meant that if the controlling-rollers H are initiallyset at right angles to the line of travel of the belt and no influencesaffect the belt to cause it to crawl side wise the belt will move trueat right angles to saidrollers but in case such influences cause thebelt to crawl laterally, as it always does, then by turning thecontrolling-rollers H to the proper angle the belt is caused to returnto its proper position, In order to move the controlling-rollers H inunison, they are connected, as shown in Fig. 2, by a bar J. For thepurpose of operating these rollers auto= matically I provide suitablemeans which are operated bythe belt itself in crawling over, which saidmeans are connected with the rollers in such a manner as to move themIro to the proper inclination to counteract the crawl of the belt andreturn it. These means consist of the cam-contacts K, one on each sideof the machine, as is shown in Fig. 1. These contacts have relativelyoppositely-arranged cam-faces, as shown in Fig. 1, and each lies in thehorizontal plane of the side flange of the belt, as is shown in Figs. 2and 3, whereby said side flanges of the belt, if the belt moves over farenough, will come in contact with said cams. Each cam is mounted upon avertical shaft 7r, which is rotatively secured in a suitable bearing onthe side of the main frame B, the lower end of said shaft being providedwith a bevel-gear 7c A cross-shaft lc suitably mounted, carries at eachend a pinion 70 which meshes with the adjacent gear It, by whichconnection the two cams K are operated in unison. Meshing with one ofthe bevel-gears 7cthat one which is shown in Fig. 2is a pinion 7%, whichhas a threaded hub k suitably mounted against movement other thanrotary, as is shown in Fig. 5. Into this hub is threaded the end of apull-rod 7c, the other end of which is connected, through a bracket 7c,with the connecting-bar J, which extends between thecontrolling-rollers. It will now be seen that if the belt crawls over toone sidefor example, toward the drivingshaft side, (shown in Fig. 1) theflange of the belt will eventually come in contact with the face of thecam K on that side, and, assuming the belt to be moving in the directionof the arrow, it will cause said cam to turn on its axis. This movementwill be transmitted through its shaft 7c, bevel-gear 7c, pinions 7c,cross-shaft 76 and pinion k to the threaded hub k whereby the latterwill be rotated. This hub acting as a nut will move the rod 7c lineally,and this movement of the rod will through its bracket connection it withthe connecting-bar J swing the controlling-rollers H in unison to theproper angle to cause the belt to crawl back again. When it reaches thenear side and comes in contact with the cam K on said side, the rollersH will be swung to a reverse inclination to again control the directionof the crawl of the belt. This is in briefthe general automatic controlof the rollers H effected by the belt itself. Certain special featuresof construction must now be noted in this connection. The first is thatthe controlling-contacts K are in the shape of cams. The crawl of thebelt is rather slow, and it takes a long time to crawl a very shortdistance. Now if the contacts K were cylindrical the belt after comingin contact with one of them would remain in contact so long that itwould continue to readily be seen that the moment the belt= flangetouches it and turns it the cam-face moves away from the belt-flange,and the cam ceases to turn; but the motion it has received is sufficientto adjust the rollers H. If the adjustment is not enough and the beltcontinues to crawl in the same direction, it will again momentarily turnthe cam-contact K, which will adjust the rollers to a further extentuntil the adjustment is sufficient to cause the belt to crawl backagain. In the meantime the cam-contact of the near side has been turnedby means of the intervening connections by the turning of the firstcamcontact, and this movement of the second contact being the oppositeof that of the first the former is turned to present its face of greaterdiameter to be first reached by the returning belt, so that when thecontact is made it will turn with a receding face under the contact,with the result already described. A second feature to be noted is thatthe connection of the pull-rod is" with the bracket 15 is, as shown inFig. 2, an adjustable one formed by threading the rod through thebracket. This adjustment is for the purpose of initially determining andfixing the proper relation of the connection of the rod with thebracket, so that an initial relative properor average relation may beestablished between 9 the position of the controlling-rollers relativelyto belt and to the cam-contacts in or-- der that there may be the properplay of all parts on each side of said initial position.

The belt-carrying frame B has imparted to it a lateral rockingmovementabout the feet of its su porting-standards C and C as centers. T's movement is one which at and near one limit or turn is relativelyquick and sudden and at the other limit is relatively slow and gentle.This is to take advantage of inertia to effect a separation of theparticles of different specific gravities on the belt in the generaldirection sidewise from the point of feed to the point of. discharge.The means here shown for imparting such a differentiated lateral rockingmovement are as follows: In Figs. 1 and 3, L is the drivingshaft,carrying the fast and loose pulleys Z and 1. One end of tnis shaftcarries a crankdisk 1", from a wrist-pin of which depends, as seen inFigs. 3 and 4, a link Z to tne lower end of which is connected a crank mof a rock-shaft M. The rock-shaft has two cranks m, to which areconnected the links m which, as shown in Fig. 1, pass under the frame Band belt F to the other side of the frame, to which they are secured, asseen in Figs. 1 and 4. As the shaft L is continuously rotated it impartsto the shaft M a rocking movement, which movement through thecross-links m is imparted to the frame and belt. This movement, owing tothe construction and relative arrangement of the connections, is onewhich gives to the belt a relatively slower and gentle motion at andabout the limit remote from the drivingshaft and a relatively quick orsudden motion at the limit or turn near the drive-shaft. If, now, Wesuppose the material to be fed upon the belt on the side remote from thedriveshaft, the effect of this differential movement is, first, toseparate the constituent particles of the material according to theirspecific gravities, the heavier particles or concentrates sinking to thebelt-surface, while the lighter particles or gangue lie above, and,second, by reason of the sudden jerk, taking advantage of inertia, theheavier particles.

being in a lower strata and in frictional contact with the belt are notcarried sidemse as far as the overriding gangue, which latter thereforemoves over faster than the concentrates and will reach the other sidefirst 5 but as it is intended in this belt-machine to add to thisseparation effect the further feature of discharging the concentratesand the gangue separately at the foot of the belt the said belt is givena travel continuous or intermittent, preferably the latter, in thedirection of its length in order to carry the material while separatingunder the shaking movement into its constituent particles to said foot.The means for effecting this are as follows: To the end of therock-shaft M opposite its main crank m is secured a depending crank mFig. 3, in which is mounted rotatively a screw-stem m adapted to beturned by a hand-wheel m, as seen in Fig. 1. Upon this screw-stem is anut m, Fig. 3, to which is connected a link N, Fig. 1, which passesbeneath the machine to the other side and is secured to one arm of anelbow-lever O, pivoted to the frame B, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Tothe other arm of this elbow-lever is connected a link 0, the other endof which is connected with the depending arm of a bell-crankfriction-lever P, pivoted in the axis of a friction-wheel Q, fixed onthe shaft of the terminal drum E, which is the driver for the belt. Thisfriction-wheel has a peripheral flange 9, Fig. 2, against which operatesa small roll R, which intervenes between it and the properlyshaped endof the horizontal arm of the bellcrank friction-lever P. By the rockingof the shaft M the-lever P through the several connections describedeffects the intermittent rotation of the friction-wheel Q, whichcorrespondingly operates the drum E and intermittently drives the beltin the direction of the arrow to the discharge end of the machine. Thescrew on effects the proper adjustment of the connecting CIOSS-llIlk N.

Under the discharge end of the machine is a receiv ng-box S, which, asshown in Fig. 1, has a partition 8, dividing the box into separatecompartments, the one, s, for the gangue, and the other, 8 for theconcentrates. In the former compartment is a stirrer T of any suitabledescription, Figs. 1 and 3 carried by a revoluble shaft 25, which isdriven by a bevel-gear t on its top, with which meshes a gear a on theend of a properly-jointed tumbler-shaft U, driven by the shaft L. Thepurpose of this stirrer is to keep the contents sufficiently agitated toprevent it from filling up with sand.

The operation of the machine will now be understood. The materialnamely, the pulp, together with wateris supplied to the belt from asuitable chute or spout at the place indicated by the dotted circle W inFig. 1. By reason of a sag in the belt, due to raising the head-roller,this place W, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is sufficiently lower than thatportion or head of the belt passing over the head-drum D to prevent thewater or pulp from flowing backward over said headdrum. It forms a dam,as it were, against such flow. The material is supplied whollyundistributed. It may be here stated that the functional surface of thebelt-that is, that portion from the line of feed down to the dischargeendmay be level or it may be inclined laterally or inclined toward thedis charge end, or by a combination of inclines the belt may have itscorner where the concentrates discharge lower than any other portion.These are matters of adjustment, to be effected by the adjustment of thestandards C and C; but they only affect the operation in degree and notin principle. When the material is fed undistributed, as stated, at thepoint W, it is afiected, first, as to separation by the lateral shake inthe manner heretofore describedthat is, the gangue travels in thegeneral lateral direction faster than the concentratesand, second, bythe travel of the belt, carrying all the particles and wa ter in thedirection of the discharge end. The gangue thus travels in a diagonalcourse of greater angle than the diagonal course of the concentrates, sothat when they reach the discharge end the gangue falls into compartment8 of box S, while the concentrates fall into compartment 8 Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. In an endless-belt concentrator, adjustable controllin'g-rollersrelatively disposed to the belt to counteract by their change ofinclination, the lateral crawl of the belt, in combination withmechanism actuated by the traveling belt, itself, in crawling, to effectthe adjustment of said controlling-rollers.

2. In an endless-belt concentrator, adjustable controlling-rollersrelatively disposed to' the belt to counteract by their change ofinclination, the lateral crawl of the belt, in combination withmechanism actuated by the traveling belt, itself, in crawling, to effectthe adjustment of said controlling-rollers consisting of revolublecontacts with which the sides of the belt engage, and suitableconnections from said contacts to the controllingrollers.

3. In an endless-belt concentrator, adjustable controlling-rollersrelatively disposed to the belt to counteract by their change ofinclination the lateral crawl of the belt, in combination with mechanismactuated by the traveling belt, itself, in crawling, to effect theadjustment of said controlling rollers consisting of receding contactswith which the sides of the belt engage, and suitable connections fromsaid contacts to the controlling-rollers.

4. In an endless-belt concentrator, adj ustable controlling-rollersrelatively disposed to the belt to counteract by their change ofinclination, the lateral crawl of the belt, in combination withmechanism actuated by the traveling belt, itself, in crawling, to effectthe adjustment of said controlling-rollers,-

consisting of revoluble cam-contacts upon the receding faces of whichthe sides of the belt impinge to momentarily turn them, and suitableconnections from said contacts to the controlling-rollers.

5. In an endless-belt concentrator, adjustable controlling-rollersrelatively disposed to the belt to counteract by their change ofinclination, the lateral crawl of the belt, in combination withmechanism actuated by the traveling belt, itself, in crawling, to effectthe adjustment of said controlling-rollers,

consisting of a pair of relatively oppositelyarranged revolublecam-contacts upon the receding faces of which the sides of the beltimpinge to momentarily turn them, one of said cam-contacts being on eachside of the belt, connections for operating said cam-contacts in unison,and suitable connections from said contacts to the controlling-rollers.

6. In an endless-belt concentrator, adjustable controlling-rollersrelatively disposed to the belt to counteract, by their change ofinclination, the lateral crawl of the belt, in combination withmechanism actuated by the traveling belt, itself, in crawling, to effectthe adjustment of said controlling-rollers, consisting of a pair ofrelatively oppositelyarranged revoluble cam-contacts upon the recedingfaces of which the sides of the belt impinge to momentarily turn them,one of said cam-contacts being oneach side of the belt, connections foroperating said cam-contacts in unison, a connection between thecontrolling-rollers to effect their adjustment in unison, and anadjustable connection between the cam-contacts and the interconnectionof the controlling-rollers, to operate them.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MARTIN P. BOSS. Witnesses:

J. COMPTON, D. B. RICHARDS.

